Improvement in folding umbrellas



A. M. ALEXANDER. Folding Umbrella.

Patented lune 8,1875.

ATTORNEYS WITN ESSES TH: GRAPHIC clLPHoTo mms am PARK Pucmw.

NITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED M. ALEXANDER, oF INDIANAPOLIS', INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING UMBRELLAS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,12l dated J une 8,1875; application filed March 20, 1875.

To all whom rit may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED M. ALEX- ANDER, of Indianapolis, in thecounty of Marion and lState of Indiana, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Folding Umbrellas; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction andoperation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawingsmaking a part of this specilication, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon.

Figures l and 2 of the drawings are representations of plan views of myumbrella, and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional detail views of the same. l

This invention has relation to umbrellas; and it consists in theconstruction and novel arrangement of the extensible ribs, and theelastic bearing under the center-plate at the top of the staff, ashereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings,'the letter A designates the stai' of myumbrella or parasol, which may be jointed at a, and provided with thejoint-sleeve b, in the usual manner. B represents the center-plate atthe upper end of the staff for the attachment of the upper ends of theribs. This centerpiece may be conveniently constructed with a grooved ordoubly-lianged outer edge for the reception of a wire, c, designed to bepassed through the eyes in the heads of the several ribs C, which arelet into notches d, formed into said grooved edge. Below saidcenter-plate is secured upon the staff a grooved collar, 1), which isdesigned to receive the rubber annulus or ring e, which is of such sizethat when the ribs are drawn in parallel with the staff they will bearagainst the elastic ring, which will have a tendency to force th;moutward.

E designates the lower or movable thimble, to which the braces d areattached, in the usual manner, or, as above described, with relation tothe center-plate B.

' The ribs C are each made in two portions,

the upper parts g being attached to the center-piece B, and the lowersliding portions or extensions h being connected with the upper parts byguide-clamps k k', or other suitable slide-connections. `To the lowerportions of the ribs are attached the outer ends of the braces, theconnection being made near the upper ends of said lower portions, asshown at m. A loop, l, is arranged on the upper part of the rib, nearits lower portion, in such a position that when the rib is fullyextended the head of the brace d will be below and entirely freed fromsaidloop, while, when the lower portion of the rib is slid upward insidethe upper portion, the brace will pass with the rib-section through saidloop, which will bind them together and to the upper section in parallelrelation. Inthis position the upper ends of the ribs will bear againstthe spring e.

When the rib-sectionsare slid together, as just described, the lowerthimble E should be above the joint of the staff, so that its handle maybe folded upward, reducing materially the length of the umbrella., andfacilitating its transportation in trunks and other baggage.

The cloth is designed to be secured at the center-piece at the 4end ofthe upper section g, and at the end of the lower section h of each rib;and at the end ot' the upper section a shelving guard, o, is provided,to obviate the catching and tearing of the cloth.

In order to open the umbrella constructed in the manner described, thestaff is designed to be lirst straightened and the joint secured by thesleeve provided for this purpose.l

Then the lower ferrule E is drawn downward with itsbraces, extending theribs their entire length. The rubber ring at the upper end of the staffwill then throw the ribs outward slightly, so that on pushing up theferrule E the upper end n of the brace d will engage with the shoulderor projection z, with which the upper section of each rib is provided,and will keep the rib rigidly extended at its full length.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y l. Thesectional rib g, provided with a guideclamp, k, having a guard, c, andshoulder z, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The sectional rib h, provided with the guide-clamp kf, in combinationwith the sectional rib g, provided with the guide-clamp k,

having guard o and shoulder hz, and .the braqe hereunto subscribed myneme .in .the presence d',gsurIl-Jlsltantialllr adescrio. t 1 of twoWitnesses.

e com ma lon w1 a sec lona extensble umbrellarib0, of the look-brace d YALFRED MARSHALL ALEXANDER' and shoulder z, constructed and arrangedWitnesses: substantially als speeied. Y v GEO. S. LONG,`

In testimony that I claim the above I have E. A. MUNsoN.

